XP Sp2 Restricted IE Links

[Kangar]

Let XP Pro update SP2. Everything worked great until opening IE with
Home link of www.msn.com. IE status window indicated; web page found,
then opening, then downloading, then nothing happens…. No web page
displayed (checked with my other XP systems and web page is displayed
immediately… both on same network. This occurs for all web page links
entered in the URL window of IE or Explorer except www.google.com. IE
or something lets Google display its web page but not others. The only
links that work from Google are those from a Google groups search.
Tried using explorer to enter links, also tried specific IP addresses,
clearing cache, firewall off, uninstalling spyware software, using
add-in manager to delete all IE add-ins, and safe mode with
networking. In each case rebooted and got same results. Worked
several hours with Microsoft and they too could not resolve IE opening
links issue. Uninstalled SP2 using Add/Remove Programs and everything
worked as it should. Microsoft suggested I not try to upgrade again to
SP2 for several months to allow them to discover what was causing this
IE hurdle.

The concern about this link issue with IE is that you cannot use IE to
contact Microsoft, check for new updates, or get any answers other
than those you may find in one of the news groups if you are smart
enough to figure it all out. Not sure how many XP users this affects
being that the system I tested on was pretty vanilla. Most users are
going to think the server supporting the URL is down or the Internet
is down somewhere…this could cause ISPs and ecommerce businesses a lot
of money. I have since turned off Automatic Updates to ensure users
don't update SP2 accidentally and will wait for most of the problems
to be resolved before updating my systems.

After four hours of trying everything I could think of even searching
the registry, any ideas on how to resolve the above?

 

[PA Bear]

To assure a clean install, your anti-virus application should be disabled
and all other running processes closed before installing anything, including
Windows Updates.

Check your system for "hijackware":

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each
and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe) is the preferred
tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...

2. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background. Note the files identified and
removed then find the corresponding page for the file at your AV maker's
online support pages (e.g.,
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.winfavorites.html)
and follow all Removal steps.

WinXP Only (WinME similar): If this scan finds anything, create a new
Restore Point then Disk Cleanup > More options > Delete all but the most
recent Restore Point.

3. Check in at Windows Update.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

 

[Chris]

Are you using Zone Alarm?
I was having the same problem. Turn off Zone Alarm and all Web pages
worked fine. I re-installed (fresh install) Zone Alarm and all worked
fine.